[Closed] Riding alone and family routes in the Lake District

You'll have to be moving at a very decent speed to get round Walna Scar in 3hrs.

http://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/issue-90-sneak-peek/

This classic Walna Scar route from Torver is only about 13 miles, with some slow pushing up WS itself, but that must be 3 hour (ish) territory if you're not sitting in the pub at Seathwaite?

It's an absolute belter as well.

Grizedale is great for mix and match. Vertebrate Graphics guide has a few routes which can be good for a 3 hour ride. Navigation can be an issue if all fire road climbs look the same though. I could probably dig you out a GPS file of a good Grizedale BW route.

With kids: Something around Tarn Hows, with a bit of Tilberthwaite maybe? Loads of easy cycle tracks in that area. Or perhaps an easy circuit of Claife, following the lakeshore, climbing from High Wray and descending via the tarns?

Walna scar is comfortable in 3 hrs. I took 2.5 on my own in absolutely disgusting weather last year. I was a bit disappointed to be honest as I had it down mentally as a "classic epic loop" and it's way too short for that.

There's plenty of nice low level stuff you can link together round Litle Langdale/Iron Keld/Loughrigg, although memory is that it's all pretty loose bouldery stuff so possibly not right for your daughter.

Borrowdale bash?

Loughrigg fell will be right on your doorstep and suits the bill for length I reckon. Also means you wouldn't have to drive (much)
http://flattyres-mtb.co.uk/route-guides/lake-district-mtb-routes/loughrigg-fell/

Walna Scar is very much marmite. I had built it up as 'epic' in my mind and was disappointed, there is only one real descent and it isn't *that* good. subjective so someone else will come along in a min and says it's the best ever. I did it from Coniston doing the bws along the lake edge so time could be shaved off by just going along the road to Torver.

Thanks all. Keen to give Warna Scar a go. I read on different forums some of the route had been sanitised and as a result had lost some of it's appeal. Is there any truth in that? Around Grizedale looks good too, so any GPS files would be great. Might also head to Whinlatter. I'm thinking the kids may enjoy some trail centre stuff too. They've been to Coed Y Brenin and loved it.

Umm Loughrigg Fell looks good too. So much choice and so little time.

Top half of Walna Scar is starting to 'recover', bottom half (below where the Torver track joins) is not all that. I enjoyed it - worth the push IMO. So if you descend towards Coniston from the col and branch off halfway towards Torver, you get the best of all worlds. Plus you have the forest singletrack and the Seathwaite descent in the route I mentioned. Pig of a road climb to start though!

I can't lay my hands on a strava route for Grizedale that fits the bill timewise and packs the most in, but it's a bit pick 'n mix - you should be able to fit five or six good descents into a 20 miler.

Whinlatter Blue is great for kids. South Red also good if they are a bit more confident - you can also climb it to the halfway point and just do the easier second half of the descent, great fun.

Cove Bridge to Torver I find a bit boring to be honest. Head down to the car park, swing a cheeky left up to Crowberry Haws then take the track down into coppermines, eventually ending at the Sun. Its an absolutely ACE track to finish off the day.

Whinlatter Blue is great for kids

The kids are 12 and 15.

Cove Bridge to Torver I find a bit boring to be honest. Head down to the car park, swing a cheeky left up to Crowberry Haws then take the track down into coppermines, eventually ending at the Sun. Its an absolutely ACE track to finish off the day.

That is a good track. Figured he'd be pushing his luck for time by then!

The kids are 12 and 15.

Good for kids of all ages. I'm 47 and I enjoy it.